Clean Diesel

EPA Adds 3.0L Diesels to VW Probe

November 2, 2015
• by Staff

Photo of 2015 Cayenne Diesel courtesy of Porsche.

About 10,000 additional Volkswagen AG vehicles from the Volkswagen, Audi, and Porsche brands from the 2014 model year forward included a software cheat to evade emissions testing, the U.S. Environmental Agency has announced.

New diesel models with the sotware include the 2014 Volkswagen Touareg, 2015 Porsche Cayenne, and 2016 Audi A6 Quattro, A7 Quattro, A8, A8L, and Q5. The vehicles, which were equipped with 3.0L engines, were named in a new notice of violation issued by the EPA. Additional 2016 models may be affected, according to the agency.

The new vehicles come on the heels of a wide-ranging scandal involving defeat software included in vehicles from the 2009 to 2015 model years. The software was paired with a 2.0L engine.

"VW has once again failed its obligation to comply with the law that protects clean air for all Americans," said Cynthia Giles, assistant administrator for enforcement and compliance assurance. "All companies should be playing by the same rules."

Volkswagen has appointed Matthias Muller, the chairman of Porsche AG, as its new chief executive to replace the departed Martin Winterkorn, and will restructure its North American operations in the wake of a scandal over diesel emissions.

Volkswagen's chief executive said the company is "deeply sorry" and plans to fully cooperate with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in its investigation of the automaker's use of software to get around federal emissions regulations.

The European Commission will require “real world” vehicle emission tests beginning in 2017. Emissions approval for passenger cars in Europe will then include mandatory on-the-road tests using a portable emissions measurement system.

General Motors first brought the Chevrolet Cruze Diesel to the U.S. for the 2014 model year. The compact car is powered by a 2.0L turbo-diesel paired with a 6-speed transmission. The gasoline-powered 2015 Cruze won Fleet Car of the Year for 2014. Photos by Vince Taroc.